Alpine Copperhead Austrelaps ramsayi

Snakes of Victoria series

Identification

The Alpine (or Highland) Copperhead, Austrelaps ramsayi, is variable in colour and pattern, ranging from pale brown to black, always with prominent white edging on the scales of the upper lip. It has 15 mid-body scale rows, a single anal scale and single subcaudal scales. Adults grow to about 1m long.

Distribution and habitat

This snake prefers reasonably damp habitats, near streams or swampy areas. It is common in the higher altitudes throughout eastern Victoria.

Biology and bite

This snake is active both day and night and feeds on small vertebrates, including frogs, lizards and small mammals. Females give birth to up to 30 live young in mid to late summer.

Alpine Copperheads are extremely dangerous and capable of inflicting fatal bites, but they are not usually aggressive and bites are uncommon.

If bitten on a limb, apply a pressure bandage, immobilise the limb and seek medical advice immediately. If bitten elsewhere, apply continuous direct pressure to the bite site. Do not wash the wound, as the venom on the skin can be used to identify the appropriate antivenom.

Comments (24)

The family and I just got back from camping in Bucklands in the Alpine National Park. We came into contact with a an approximate 1 metre long snake which I researched as soon as I got home. I'm suspecting that it was a copperhead. I know that we were in it's territory but with young children playing in a river where it feeds, it's still a vey scary experience. The snake didn't attack. It slid by casually as we stood in shock. My paternal instinct was to kill it. Is that wrong? Is it even legal? ...I don't know...

Hi Ray.
I am a licensed snake catcher in the northern outskirts of Melbourne. No, it is not legal to kill a snake in Victoria. It is illegal, highly dangerous, and very unnecessary. Statistics show that the majority of snakebites occur when the "victim" has attempted to catch or kill a snake. Many of our state's venomous snakes are very shy, and will avoid humans where possible. Our two most confident snakes, the Eastern Brown and the Tiger, will try to avoid close contact with humans also. The best advice I can give you for snake encounters, is to stand still, and let it pass. If you do find one in or around your home, call DSE on 136 186 or your council for a local licensed snake catcher.

Rish
27 February, 2011 10:31

it is illegal to kill a snake in Victoria. i have been working in the bush in eastern victoria for many years, and have had a lot of encounters with snakes, iv'e heard many other stories from work colleagues. from people standing on them to snakes slithering over them whilst on a lunch break. no one that i've heard of has ever been bitten. there have been a few close calls, and it has always been from tiger snakes. 99.9% of encounters will be someone seeing a snake slithering off into the bushes. We always wear gaiters just to be on the safe side.

I was also camping up at the Buckland valley at Easter. We came across an Alpine Copperhead basking in the sun on the road - quite late for snakes up there at this time of year - must have been the lovely sunny weather. They are a beautiful snake - quite small comparatively - but can understand your concern having young kids. These snakes are not aggressive - best advice is to stand as still as possible and educate the kids on what they need to do if they see a snake. Killing native animals is is illegal. A most beautiful part of the world!

This was the first time I have seen a snake in Victoria. I did see this reptile when I went for a drive to upper yarra valley region. When I saw I do not know what kind of snake was it. When I googled it, I found it was Ramsayi. I was not aggressive and it was bit slow. When we saw, it was looking at us and was not moving anywhere. Could be ready for defence fr us. But we did not disturb it, we left that place. When we came back after sometime . We noticed it again few meters away from the same place. Might be searching for some food. It wasn't troubling us...

On the Kosciuszko summit hike from Thredbo we saw an alpine copperhead right next to the path. That path is raised so we felt a bit secure and a lot of people were stopping to look at it. I didn't know what it was at the time and I was surprised it didn't move at all.

Lara,
I think we might just have seen the same one this morning! I'm unsure if they are territorial, but we just spotted one right alongside the Kosciuszko path, about 500m from the top of the chairlift. Didn't seem too worried about us, but we made sure we gave it plenty of room. I must've done that walk at least thirty times, and it was the biggest snake I've ever seen above the tree line.

James
20 January, 2012 12:49

My workplace in the Kosciuszko National Park has it's fair share of Alpine Copperheads; one less of late as my workmates witnessed a large specimen catch, subdue and eat a smaller one, all within metres of the busy office. We encounter them quite regularly and they never seem worried about our presence, but I always give them a wide berth where possible; it's a long way to the hospital....

Encountered approx 1m Alpine Copperhead just near Harrietville earier this week. School group of about 80 kids doing a hike from Harrietville on the Razorback walk. It was only 30cm from the side of the very thin path and about 50 people walked past before anyone even noticed. Dark grey/brown in colour with the light scales along the side. We watched it for about an hour whilst the kids hiked up and back. Very docile and only moved its head a few times during this time. Phew!

I've fished the Buckland River for the last 5 years and come across 3 snakes in that time. I always thought they were black snakes because they were so dark but I now think they may have been Alpine Copperheads. I had a real good look at a beautiful specimen that was in the middle of a small track once. It was a stunning animal. It's flattened head convinced me it was very wary of me and perhaps ready to strike. I backtracked and walked out through the river!

Hi All,
Just back from a trip including an impromptu trip from Merimbula to Charlotte Pass on Monday 18 March 2013 - halfway up the track from the car park to Mt Stirling came across what believe (following research) was an alpine copperhead. About 60cm long, sitting on the edge of the narrow track. Not aggressive, but prompted the usual 'gotta get them snake gaiters for sure' comment...once again. Funny, been walking this long, hot summer, almost every weekend in various parts of Victoria and very careful about snakes, and in many situations where could not see the track under foot due to side growth etc, but not seen one all summer down here - first one I see is up in the Alpine on a 9 degree day. Go figure.,...

Mt Feather Top federation walking trail, saw 1 black copper head, and 1 brown copper head 15 meters apart from each other along the walking trail.
Seen at altitude where the snow-line begins (seen in summer). Was at the point of the track where the last water spring flows over the trail.
Could've been a mating pair possibly? Or just two at the same point on the trail looking for food. Both around 1 meter.
First time snake encounter on this track, have walked the trail 10 times or so.
Non aggressive.

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Rod
19 January, 2014 23:51

Saw one of these on the main road at Thredbo today, between Friday Flat and the village. It was cruising across the road slowly. Went into the car park and then on towards the river. Nice looking snake and seemed oblivious to the people around.

We have a snake hanging around our backyard in Kalorama (mt dandenong) and after research believe it most resembles the Alpine Copperhead. Is this likely in this location? He seems longer than others reported here..about 1.5m.

We are fortunate enough to spend our Winter at Guthega, This morning we were fortunate enough to observe two copper head snakes basking in the beautiful Spring sun just outsid our flat window in the Guthega Nordic Building

Yesterday I climbed to Mt Twynam with a Friend
in the Kosciusko Southern Alps We were coming back down from Twynam and We spotted a Snake lying on top of the tussocks.
it looked very much to us like a yellow belly Black snake it was over a metre in length I new we had copperheads through the main range and I was surprised to see this snake so high up.
perhaps it is a copperhead over the years I have seen some quite large ones .
i live at Nimmitabel and we are sub alpine elevation and see copperhead snakes often

My mate and I were camping/fly fishing on the Howqua River at Tobacco Flat, not far past Sheepyard Flat out of Mansfield and we had a 1m alpine copperhead come straight through our campsite around 12 noon. It had the tell tale white stripes behind its head and was quite happy coming through even though humans were around. We watched from a distance as it continued on its way further into the scrub alongside the river.

I saw what I believe was an alpine copperhead in our chook paddock in Ashbourne (Macedon Ranges, VIC) this evening at about 6pm. Very shy and quite small, black with a pale belly. It gave me a bit of a start given it was a lovely sunny day but not super warm.

Coming down from Eagles Nest at Thredbo on the Merrit Nature Walk spotted what must have been the Alpine Copperhead, also noted its light black appearance and wide flat head. On steep step, docile and slithered off after we observed it for 10 seconds.

My husband I saw a very long fat alpine copperhead snake near Mt Kosciuszko in January 2013. It was beside the raised track and was in the process of devouring a largish lizard. Because it was busy eating it didn't pay any attention to us or try to move away and I was able to take some great close up photos.